Etowah, DeKalb approved for federal disaster aid

Published: Thursday, May 8, 2014 at 4:34 p.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, May 8, 2014 at 10:52 p.m.

Etowah, DeKalb and three other counties have been declared disaster areas and now qualify for assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Blount, Tuscaloosa and Mobile counties also were declared disaster areas, joining Jefferson, Limestone, Baldwin and Lee counties. All nine counties qualify for individual, public and small business administration assistance from FEMA.

Local leaders gathered at Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church on Thursday night to explain to the Smith Institute community what options are available to them. The meeting signals a shift in focus from immediate issues to long-term recovery, as residents now will try to get their lives back to the way they were before the EF3 tornado ravaged their community about 12:30 a.m. April 29.

Gadsden/Etowah EMA Director Mike Bryant announced the good news to applause inside the sanctuary. He also announced Gov. Robert Bentley and Lt. Gov. Kay Ivey’s visit to Smith Institute at 1:30 p.m. today, which will also bring a mobile FEMA Disaster Relief Center to the church.

Saturday, the center will move to the courtroom of Sardis City Hall and will be open Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Bryant said FEMA will be at City Hall for about three weeks. Bryant encouraged everyone, no matter the damage or insurance status, to apply for FEMA aid as the full extent of the damage still may not be apparent.

Etowah County Sheriff Todd Entrekin said his office, as well as the volunteer center, will be shutting down at Bethlehem Missionary Baptist by this evening. He said even though the command center won’t be there, deputies still will be to help citizens.

“We’re not leaving you,” Entrekin said. “We’ll be here every day until we know everyone and their property is safe.”

Sardis City Fire Chief Johnny Crosson said Sardis Water Works will lock out meters for those whose homes have been destroyed so they don’t get bills. He also asked that nobody burn any debris that has piled up, but rather wait for those who will be removing it.

Etowah County District 3 Commissioner Larry Payne said the county has 30 miles of roads to clean debris from, whether the roads were damaged or homes on them were. The cost is expected to be around $700,000, and debris cleanup began Thursday.

Payne asked the residents to separate their debris between wood and construction materials. The two must be taken to different places and need to be kept apart, with wood being taken to the side of the road first. After the wood is picked up, construction debris will be next.

He also advised residents that if they have salvageable metals, scrapping them for cash helps put money in the residents’ pockets and also saves the county money on debris removal.

As long-term efforts continue, the best resource to use as a gateway to find the help that is needed is 211. Director Susan Carter said 211 serves as a hub for nonprofits and other agencies that can help people find the right agency for help with major, minor or any other kinds of problems.

“We will stay as current as we possibly can on the information that will help you in your recovery,” Carter said.

United Way Executive Director Joanne Hightower said recovery efforts in tornadoes usually last about 18 months and the United Way will be with Smith Institute residents to see them through the next year and a half. She said the United Way will help out with financial assistance for people who may need more help than FEMA or insurance can or will provide.

The agency already is taking donations in Gadsden for household items for when they are needed. Hightower said the United Way’s role Smith Institute’s recovery is to continue to help once all the big and short-term agencies have left. Many of those needs may not be apparent now, but United Way will be there to help when those needs are identified.

Local legislators Sen. Phil Williams, R-Rainbow City, Rep. Becky Nordgren, R-Gadsden, and Rep. Mack Butler, R-Rainbow City, also were at the event. Nordgren presented Crosson with a check for $6,000 alongside Williams and Butler. Williams also gave a warning about the help that may arrive in coming weeks.

“Not every good deed is a godsend,” Williams said. “If someone comes to your door with a great idea to help you but they need your personal information, be suspicious.”

Legal Services Alabama’s Misty Ledbetter said her organization is a nonprofit law firm that is designed to help disaster victims in times like these. She warned to be leery of the swarm of contractors that will arrive to help and said to make sure to ask for estimates from multiple contractors, ensure any contractors that are hired are licensed and bonded and to ask the contractors for references on past work.

Ledbetter said her firm also is there to help with the legal issues that will arise from the tornado, such as lease problems. She said her organization also will help residents navigate the lengthy and confusing bureaucracy that is FEMA. She said they will help with appeals for those whose claims are denied by either FEMA or their insurance company.

She also mentioned programs her firm helps people apply for like Disaster SNAP, which is an expedited form of food stamps specifically for disaster survivors.

For the farmers whose livestock, poultry and crops were destroyed by the storm, the USDA’s Zac Burns pointed out three programs that can help replace animals, fencing or other needs. To reach USDA, call its office in Gadsden or Rainsville, depending on location of residence, or call 211, which can also get people in touch with all the agencies already mentioned.

All the leaders who spoke also thanked the army of volunteers that helped keep initial recovery efforts going. Williams said he knows the proud, hard-working spirit of Smith Institute, and many people may think they shouldn’t apply for aid because their neighbor needs it more, but said that altruism isn’t necessary in this situation.

“Apply anyway because (FEMA) is funded by your tax dollars,” Williams said. “You’ve seen that money go to help other communities around the country, and now it’s your turn.”

<p>Etowah, DeKalb and three other counties have been declared disaster areas and now qualify for assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.</p><p>Blount, Tuscaloosa and Mobile counties also were declared disaster areas, joining Jefferson, Limestone, Baldwin and Lee counties. All nine counties qualify for individual, public and small business administration assistance from FEMA.</p><p>Local leaders gathered at Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church on Thursday night to explain to the Smith Institute community what options are available to them. The meeting signals a shift in focus from immediate issues to long-term recovery, as residents now will try to get their lives back to the way they were before the EF3 tornado ravaged their community about 12:30 a.m. April 29.</p><p>Gadsden/Etowah EMA Director Mike Bryant announced the good news to applause inside the sanctuary. He also announced Gov. Robert Bentley and Lt. Gov. Kay Ivey's visit to Smith Institute at 1:30 p.m. today, which will also bring a mobile FEMA Disaster Relief Center to the church.</p><p>Saturday, the center will move to the courtroom of Sardis City Hall and will be open Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Bryant said FEMA will be at City Hall for about three weeks. Bryant encouraged everyone, no matter the damage or insurance status, to apply for FEMA aid as the full extent of the damage still may not be apparent.</p><p>Etowah County Sheriff Todd Entrekin said his office, as well as the volunteer center, will be shutting down at Bethlehem Missionary Baptist by this evening. He said even though the command center won't be there, deputies still will be to help citizens.</p><p>“We're not leaving you,” Entrekin said. “We'll be here every day until we know everyone and their property is safe.”</p><p>Sardis City Fire Chief Johnny Crosson said Sardis Water Works will lock out meters for those whose homes have been destroyed so they don't get bills. He also asked that nobody burn any debris that has piled up, but rather wait for those who will be removing it.</p><p>Etowah County District 3 Commissioner Larry Payne said the county has 30 miles of roads to clean debris from, whether the roads were damaged or homes on them were. The cost is expected to be around $700,000, and debris cleanup began Thursday.</p><p>Payne asked the residents to separate their debris between wood and construction materials. The two must be taken to different places and need to be kept apart, with wood being taken to the side of the road first. After the wood is picked up, construction debris will be next. </p><p>He also advised residents that if they have salvageable metals, scrapping them for cash helps put money in the residents' pockets and also saves the county money on debris removal. </p><p>As long-term efforts continue, the best resource to use as a gateway to find the help that is needed is 211. Director Susan Carter said 211 serves as a hub for nonprofits and other agencies that can help people find the right agency for help with major, minor or any other kinds of problems.</p><p>“We will stay as current as we possibly can on the information that will help you in your recovery,” Carter said.</p><p>United Way Executive Director Joanne Hightower said recovery efforts in tornadoes usually last about 18 months and the United Way will be with Smith Institute residents to see them through the next year and a half. She said the United Way will help out with financial assistance for people who may need more help than FEMA or insurance can or will provide.</p><p>The agency already is taking donations in Gadsden for household items for when they are needed. Hightower said the United Way's role Smith Institute's recovery is to continue to help once all the big and short-term agencies have left. Many of those needs may not be apparent now, but United Way will be there to help when those needs are identified.</p><p>Local legislators Sen. Phil Williams, R-Rainbow City, Rep. Becky Nordgren, R-Gadsden, and Rep. Mack Butler, R-Rainbow City, also were at the event. Nordgren presented Crosson with a check for $6,000 alongside Williams and Butler. Williams also gave a warning about the help that may arrive in coming weeks.</p><p>“Not every good deed is a godsend,” Williams said. “If someone comes to your door with a great idea to help you but they need your personal information, be suspicious.”</p><p>Legal Services Alabama's Misty Ledbetter said her organization is a nonprofit law firm that is designed to help disaster victims in times like these. She warned to be leery of the swarm of contractors that will arrive to help and said to make sure to ask for estimates from multiple contractors, ensure any contractors that are hired are licensed and bonded and to ask the contractors for references on past work.</p><p>Ledbetter said her firm also is there to help with the legal issues that will arise from the tornado, such as lease problems. She said her organization also will help residents navigate the lengthy and confusing bureaucracy that is FEMA. She said they will help with appeals for those whose claims are denied by either FEMA or their insurance company.</p><p>She also mentioned programs her firm helps people apply for like Disaster SNAP, which is an expedited form of food stamps specifically for disaster survivors. </p><p>For the farmers whose livestock, poultry and crops were destroyed by the storm, the USDA's Zac Burns pointed out three programs that can help replace animals, fencing or other needs. To reach USDA, call its office in Gadsden or Rainsville, depending on location of residence, or call 211, which can also get people in touch with all the agencies already mentioned.</p><p>All the leaders who spoke also thanked the army of volunteers that helped keep initial recovery efforts going. Williams said he knows the proud, hard-working spirit of Smith Institute, and many people may think they shouldn't apply for aid because their neighbor needs it more, but said that altruism isn't necessary in this situation.</p><p>“Apply anyway because (FEMA) is funded by your tax dollars,” Williams said. “You've seen that money go to help other communities around the country, and now it's your turn.”</p>